A novel nanoindentation protocol to characterize surface free energy of superhydrophobic nanopatterned materials

Abstract Surface Free Energy (SFE) has become a relevant design parameter to produce materials and devices with controlled wettability. The non-destructive measurement of SFE in nanopatterned super-hydrophobic hard surfaces is a challenge in both research and industry since in most cases time-consuming contact angle measurements are not feasible. In this work, we present a novel nanoindentation based method for the measurement of pull-off adhesive forces by carefully controlling environmental and instrumentation issues. The method is found to measure SFE over five orders of magnitude, covering hydrophilic to super-hydrophobic surfaces, and has been validated with contact angle measurements. Its limitations and shortcomings are critically discussed, with a specific focus on the experimental issues that could affect the reliability and reproducibility of the results. Finally, the potential applications of the newly developed methodology include fast non-destructive mapping of SFE over heterogeneous surfaces with spatially controlled wettability. Graphic abstrac

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Mechanical behavior of surface-patterned and coated Si or Ge wafers for superhydrophobic and antireflective light transmitting windows

International audienceThe compressive resistance of truncated nanocone lattices produced by lithography and etching steps on Si or Ge wafers to get superhydrophobic and antireflective light transmitting windows, as well as the protection efficiency of alumina or diamond coatings are investigated by numerical simulations of elastic buckling, and nano-compression tests. The latter reveal the limits of an elastic analysis, since the stress at the top of the cones is high enough to trigger plastic flow, or phase changes. Ge nano-cones exhibit a large ductility in compression, and even seem to creep at room temperature. Thin alumina or diamond coatings are however shown to provide an effective protection against both buckling and plastic flow. Surface patterning is shown to induce stress concentrations at the foot of the cones, which reduces the fracture resistance of the substrate in biaxial bending

Wide band UV/Vis/NIR blazed-binary reflective gratings: two lithographic techniques investigation

We report on subwavelength reflective gratings for hyperspectral applications operating in the 340 nm-1040 nm spectral range. The blazed grating period is 30 μm and is composed of 2D subwavelength binary structures with sizes in-between 120 nm and 350 nm. We demonstrate the manufacturing of gratings on 3” wafers by two lithography technologies (e-beam or nanoimprint) followed by dry etching process. These subwavelength gratings enable broadband efficiency which is in average 15%-20% above the efficiency requirement for next generation of spectro-imagers for Earth observation missions and a wavefront error that is much smaller than the 100 nm requirement for space application

Wide band UV/Vis/NIR blazed-binary reflective gratings for spectro-imagers: two lithographic technologies investigation

We report on subwavelength reflective gratings for hyperspectral applications operating in a very large spectral band (340–1040 nm). Our study concerns a blazed-binary grating having a period of 30 μm and composed of 2D subwavelength structures with size from 120 nm to 350 nm. We demonstrate the manufacturing of the gratings on 3″ wafers by two lithography technologies (e-beam and nanoimprint) followed by classical dry etching process. Optical measurements show that the subwavelength grating approach enables a broadband efficiency, polarization behaviour and wavefront quality improvement with respect to the requirements for the next generation of spectro-imagers for Earth observation missions. An outlook towards spherical substrate based on nanoimprint lithography is also reported with the results of mixed features replication (holes and pillars in the range of 160–330 nm) on a 540 mm concave substrate which demonstrate uniformity and accuracy capabilities over 3″ surface

Combining two repurposed drugs as a promising approach for Alzheimer's disease therapy

International audienc

Benefits and risks of noninvasive oxygenation strategy in COVID-19: a multicenter, prospective cohort study (COVID-ICU) in 137 hospitals

International audienceAbstract Rational To evaluate the respective impact of standard oxygen, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on oxygenation failure rate and mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Methods Multicenter, prospective cohort study (COVID-ICU) in 137 hospitals in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Demographic, clinical, respiratory support, oxygenation failure, and survival data were collected. Oxygenation failure was defined as either intubation or death in the ICU without intubation. Variables independently associated with oxygenation failure and Day-90 mortality were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results From February 25 to May 4, 2020, 4754 patients were admitted in ICU. Of these, 1491 patients were not intubated on the day of ICU admission and received standard oxygen therapy (51%), HFNC (38%), or NIV (11%) ( P < 0.001). Oxygenation failure occurred in 739 (50%) patients (678 intubation and 61 death). For standard oxygen, HFNC, and NIV, oxygenation failure rate was 49%, 48%, and 60% ( P < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, HFNC (odds ratio [OR] 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36–0.99, P = 0.013) but not NIV (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.78–3.21) was associated with a reduction in oxygenation failure). Overall 90-day mortality was 21%. By multivariable analysis, HFNC was not associated with a change in mortality (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.61–1.33), while NIV was associated with increased mortality (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.79–4.21, P < 0.001). Conclusion In patients with COVID-19, HFNC was associated with a reduction in oxygenation failure without improvement in 90-day mortality, whereas NIV was associated with a higher mortality in these patients. Randomized controlled trials are needed

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis

International audienc